Twin Cities musician dies in Park City

Steve Kramer was well known in the 1980s music scene there

A musician from the Twin Cities area died last weekend in Park City while in town for the Sundance Film Festival and skiing, a friend of his said.

Steve Kramer was 59 years old and lived in St. Paul, Minn., according to Bob Hest, who also managed Kramer's band in the 1980s. The band was called The Wallets and was active in the 1980s, Hest said, calling the group the "hippest wedding band ever."

"He was one of those guys -- there's two in each town -- that have this thing you can't define," Hest said.

Kramer played the piano and the keyboard. The band was influenced by jazz, punk and funk, he said. It played in the Minneapolis area and eventually on the East Coast and the West Coast.

"They were the most popular band. Steve Kramer wrote music that was completely accessible," Hest said.

Hest said Kramer was in Park City with his sister, a filmmaker.

The Park City Police Department received notification at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Rick Ryan, a police captain, said the sister found Kramer unresponsive in a bed at Hotel Park City. Ryan said an autopsy is planned. No foul play is suspected, he said.